HM1 Laura Schmidt, U.S. Navy (1980-1992)

Once upon a time…

That’s how all love stories begin, isn’t it?

Laura Grunst, a young servicewoman, was attending the Naval School of Health Sciences in Portsmouth, Virginia. She would spend her time studying with her classmate Angela at the base club. The bartender would let the two study in a private, quiet area with their books sprawled out on the table and pitchers of soda to keep them going.

One afternoon a large group of servicemen were reveling in their football victory when they invited the women to join them at their table. Reluctantly the two girls agreed, as the ruckus had halted their studying for the remainder of that day. 

As conversations ensued, Laura was being grilled by one particular individual at the far end of the table. She could not see his face, yet he would not let up about where she was from in California. Laura was getting quite annoyed as the young man continued in his interrogation. It turned out that he was not only from the same state, but had grown up in a neighboring city, and attended a rival high school. Within minutes he had moved down to her end of the table and introduced himself as Cliff Schmidt. Was this Providence?

Laura had never noticed him before on the base or at the school, yet after their introduction she began to see him everywhere. She later found out that Cliff had spies who would relay information to him about her location on the base at any given time. 

It was during the two week Christmas break, while they were apart, that Laura realized she was in love with Cliff and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Although they had talked of marriage, with his upcoming deployment and her return to California upon her graduation, the timing was not right. 

After his first deployment, Cliff took leave, flew to California and asked Laura’s mother for her hand in marriage. Her mother said yes. 

One of the couple’s first challenges occurred prior to their marriage. They set a date for 4/30/1988. However, Cliff’s ship arrived earlier than scheduled and Laura received by telegram the following message: “Ship coming in early STOP Can’t do the 30th STOP How about the 15th STOP” Their wedding was 4/15/1988. 

Three years into their marriage, their roles were reversed. Laura was recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm. She was gone for three months on a hospital ship in the Persian Gulf. This time Cliff was the one left at home, but it was different now. Laura was in a war zone. 

Walking through the airport to greet my husband was one of the most emotional days of my life. There is a phrase often quoted that states, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  This photo says it all, and it has been a wonderful 37 years, with many more to come. 

Read the Military Memories of our Runner-Ups.